Etihad Airways and Al Ittihad football club sign partnership agreement in Jeddah

Etihad Airways and Al Ittihad Football Club have held an official signing ceremony in Jeddah, marking the start of the new partnership between the Abu Dhabi-based airline and the Saudi Arabian football club.

The three year
agreement, announced on 15 July 2015, named Etihad Airways as the official
airline partner for the Abdul Latif Jameel League club.

The signing
ceremony took place at Al Ittihad FC between Ibrahim Al-Balawi, President of Al Ittihad FC, and Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief
Commercial Officer.

Accompanying Mr. Baumgartner
from Etihad Airways at the ceremony was Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice President
Corporate and International Affairs, and Patrick Pierce, Vice President
Sponsorship.

Peter Baumgartner said: “We are delighted to visit Jeddah, the home of Al
Ittihad Football Club, and to celebrate this new partnership which has
captivated football fans in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East.

“We were extremely
proud to host the club for its visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in September, and
this return trip to Jeddah to celebrate the commencement of the partnership
with the club’s fans and officials marks another exciting chapter in the cooperation
between Etihad Airways and Al Ittihad FC.”

Etihad Airways will continue to activate the partnership with Al
Ittihad FC across a number of marketing and communications platforms, including
home matches in King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, media conferences, exclusive club events and player appearances.

Al Ittihad FC will
also use Etihad Airways as its preferred airline when the club and its supporters travel overseas for
matches, including the Asian Champions League tournament.

Ibrahim Al-Balawi, President of Al
Ittihad FC, said: “We are delighted to team up with Etihad Airways. We are confident this partnership
will have a positive impact on
Al Ittihad FC, because it allows the
club to extend its reach outside our home market.

“It
will also help the club supporters to travel seamlessly on Etihad Airways’
global network and to enjoy its leading services and premium products.”

Al
Ittihad FC plays its home games
at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. It has won the Abdul
Latif Jameel League on eight
occasions and has won the Asian
championship three times.

Etihad Airways operates 55 return
flights a week between Abu Dhabi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
including 16 return flights between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah,19 to
Dammam,13 to Riyadh and daily to Madinah.